Business

Denver-to-Tokyo flight marked by ceremony

Passengers at Denver International Airport wait to board United Flight 139, the first direct Denver to Toyko flight on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 10, 2013. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

Colorado economic and business leaders celebrated with food, dance, drumming and a sake ceremony Monday before boarding the first-ever direct flight from Denver to Tokyo.

The long-anticipated inaugural flight ascended into the blue skies above Denver International Airport shortly before 1 p.m. carrying a delegation that will spend the week in Tokyo meeting with government and economic officials in an effort to build business partnerships.

Their aim is to build both trade and tourism between Colorado and Japan in an effort to sell enough seats to maintain the flight.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver International Airport manager of aviation Kim Day, along with several representatives and executives from United, which is operating the route, spoke to those gathered on the concourse to emphasize the importance of the direct flight.

"In the end," Hickenlooper said, "this is one of the greatest ways we create wealth — through connecting people and cultures."

Travelers passing by gate B32 could see a performance by the Denver Taiko, which is Japanese-style drumming, and the breaking of a sake barrel — marking a notable or celebratory moment in Japanese culture. There was also a Shinto prayer, and Denver artist Malcolm Farley created a painting.

Karen Shimamoto has been drumming with Denver Taiko for 15 years. As a fourth-generation Japanese-American, Shimamoto still has extended family in Japan.

The energy was high as she and eight of her fellow drummers took to the stage in front of Colorado and Japanese dignitaries, and travelers taking the flight.

"We use a lot of the traditional aspects but also incorporate a lot of our American takes on it while still being respective of our culture," Shimamoto said. "We (Japanese-Americans) have our little corner in Denver at Sakura Square, but I think this flight will be huge for Denver."

Drummers perform at Denver International Airport ahead of the first nonstop flight to Tokyo, June 10, 2013. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

Jim Mueller, director of Asia and Pacific sales for United, greeted the crowds in Japanese.

He also recognized All Nippon Airways, which was to be the original carrier for the flight before United opted to operate it instead. ANA and United are code-share partners.

While Denver officials often point out that it took 27 years of effort to land the direct flight, the final few months before Monday's flight were particularly painful for organizers because problems with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner forced airlines to ground the planes for several weeks, twice delaying the launch date for Denver service.

The 787 is considered the only plane that makes the route financially feasible because it is efficient enough to make the long haul and small enough — just 219 seats — to fill more easily.

The 787s have been back in U.S. commercial service since May 29. Monday's flight to Japan, however, was the first international flight with the airline's Dreamliner since the grounding order was lifted in April.

Shortly after Denver's Tokyo flight, a 787 was to take off Monday from Houston headed to London. United will launch three additional international routes with the 787 in August.

Denver Taiko senior drum member Aiko Kimura leads drummers before United Airlines launched its highly anticipated nonstop service from its hub in Denver to Tokyo-Narita airport with the revolutionary but problem-plagued Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

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